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Hummer
Samba Member
Joined: May 27, 2011
Posts: 42
Location: Dayton, OH
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 Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 11:28 am Post subject: Steering Pop/Drift Issue |
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Hey everyone,
About to take my bus out of winter hibernation, but right before I put her away she developed a new concerning idiosyncrasy.
'73 Westfalia
I can't remember if it does it when I'm turning both ways.... I'm pretty sure it does it when turning left.
Say I'm going straight down the road and am going to execute a left turn onto a side road. As I start turning the wheel left, the bus starts to turn and I can feel the ridiculous body roll kick in from the lateral G's.
At some point as I'm turning the wheel, I get an audible clunk that I can feel in my feet on the floor. At the same time the bus kind of drifts to the right ever so slightly.
If I continue turning the wheel, the turn is completed no problem.
So, what could this loud clunk be? It is almost as if there is a tooth missing or worn in the steering mechanism.
Thoughts? What should I check out? |
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Amskeptic
Samba Member
Joined: October 18, 2002
Posts: 8586
Location: All Across The Country
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| Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 11:49 am Post subject: Re: Steering Pop/Drift Issue |
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| Hummer wrote: |
As I start turning the wheel left, I can feel the ridiculous body roll kick in from the lateral G's. |
Really? Ridiculous body roll up front?
| Hummer wrote: |
At some point as I'm turning the wheel, I get an audible clunk that I can feel in my feet on the floor. At the same time the bus kind of drifts to the right ever so slightly.
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Get an assistant to crank on the wheel with the car stationary. Have assistant preload right then crank left while under the car, you hold the drag link and watch the steering coupler. It may take more than one time to get the symptom. If the coupler makes a movement but the drag link does not pull, you might want to check the lower coupler flange that bolts to the steering box input shaft. It is a splined clamp with a 13mm bolt/nut.
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wihr
Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2010
Posts: 344
Location: PORTLAND, OR
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| Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 11:50 am Post subject: |
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Check your sway/anti-roll bar.
_________________
WIHR
1970 Campmobile "Van Ordinaire"
2009 Lincoln Town Car "Behemoth"
1969 Lambretta 150 DL "Nina"
1962 Matchless G 12 CS 650cc |
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Tcash
Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2011
Posts: 12843
Location: San Jose, California, USA
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| Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 12:08 pm Post subject: Steering Play |
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To link to this post copy and paste
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| [url=http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7606246#7606246]Steering Play[/url] |
Types of things to look for.
Excessive steering wheel play.
Link
Link
Broken rubber steering coupler.
Link
Link
Link
Link
Link
Good Luck
Tcash
Last edited by Tcash on Sat May 12, 2018 4:53 pm; edited 8 times in total |
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Hummer
Samba Member
Joined: May 27, 2011
Posts: 42
Location: Dayton, OH
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| Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 12:17 pm Post subject: Keep em coming! |
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| Thanks for the suggestions so far! Tons of leads! |
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orwell84
Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2007
Posts: 2806
Location: Plattsburgh, New York
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| Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2017 11:46 am Post subject: Re: Steering Pop/Drift Issue |
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| Thanks very much for the help. I have greased the front end and so far all looks good. I freaked because I also found the "crack" Tcash did in the steering coupler. I freaked because I am driving to Maine in a few days. It's not a crack. It's supposed to be there. |
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